Super Bowl XLVIII: How the Broncos, Seahawks were built

Seattle did it mostly through the draft, and are younger than Broncos, who signed Manning, others to build Super Bowl club.

February 01, 2014|By Frank Cooney, Of The Sports Xchange

NEW YORK — — The method to the madness in constructing Super Bowl XLVIII's two outstanding teams reflects the experience and urgency of the key men who assembled the rosters.

In January 2010, the Seattle Seahawks snatched head coach Pete Carroll from the jaws of college suspension at Southern California where he recruited more than his share of great players. After four years of Carroll's aggressive recruiting in Seattle, the talented Seahawks' roster retains only four players he inherited.

On March 20, 2012, Hall of Fame quarterback John Elway, in his second season as executive vice president of the Denver Broncos, signed an equally famous quarterback in Peyton Manning, who was four days shy of his 36th birthday. Their shared Super Bowl dream was fraught with urgency, but Elway's belief was backed by the knowledge that his own Super Bowl victories at quarterback came after he was 36.

But the need to win now brought 39 new players to the Broncos since the beginning of 2012, including 23 free agents, 16 this season.

With the addition of Manning, and the accompanying fond farewell of a guy named Tim Tebow, the Broncos changed their philosophy from run, or run-option, to pass.

This benefited wide receivers Demaryius Thomas and Eric Decker, the first- and third-round picks from the previous administration of coach Josh McDaniels in 2010.

After catching a total of 54 passes his first two seasons, Thomas grabbed 94 for 1,434 yards and 10 scores in 2012, then 92 for 1,430 and 14 scores this season. Decker caught 85 passes for 1,065 yards and 13 scores in 2012 and added 97 for 1,202 this season.

But the signing of clever slot man Wes Welker this season was the final touch needed for Manning. Call it a gift from the New England Patriots, who more or less shunned Welker. This season, despite missing three games, he caught 73 passes for 778 yards and 10 scores.

The Broncos put all of it together to set single-season NFL records for points scored (606) and net passing yards (5,444). Their 7,317 yards of total offense is the second-best single-season mark.

Elway's first draft added Defensive Rookie of the Year Von Miller with the second overall pick. Free safety Rahim Moore and right tackle Orlando Franklin were taken in the second round. Tight end Julius Thomas, a former college basketball player with little football background, was nabbed in the fourth round.

The Broncos had to scramble to fill holes created by myriad problems, including injuries, suspensions (Von Miller) and even a paperwork issue that allowed pass rusher Elvis Dumervill to go to Baltimore.

The Broncos were able to do this because they had depth, thanks to a roster that included only three players among the highest paid at their position in the league — Manning, cornerback Champ Bailey, and offensive tackle Ryan Clady (who was lost for the season after two games due to a foot injury).

Carroll and the Seahawks built mostly through the draft. Using a wealth of old personnel homework that dated back to his recruiting days at USC, Carroll extracted an extraordinary amount of talent from all levels of the draft, most notably starting quarterback Russell Wilson (Round 3, 2012), All-Pro cornerback Richard Sherman (Round 5, 2011) and linebackers Bobby Wagner (Round 2, 2012), and K.J. Wright (Round 5, 2011).

They signed quarterback Matt Flynn to a sizable free agent deal (three years, $24 million) in 2012, only to see him lose the job to Wilson, the third-round pick. And this season they gave wide receiver Percy Harvin a six-year, $64.25 million contract after trading to get him from Minnesota, but injuries sidelined him for all but part of one regular-season game.

But Carroll did orchestrate perhaps one of the most important trades in franchise history when he snagged Buffalo Bills running back Marshawn Lynch, whose talents he knew well as a Pac-10 opponent from the University of California.

So each team had to use all avenues of acquisition to build a Super Bowl roster.

For the Broncos, and Manning, the future is obviously now.

For the Seahawks, and their talented young roster, the future is bright. And if Carroll's kids can win this one, his next task will be to maintain the momentum through the first big turnover in contracts, the NFL's version of post-grad school.